argument161 4月12号考试

ericliu0317UID: 2533424

TOPIC: ARGUMENT161 - In a study of reading habits of Leeville citizens conducted by the University of Leeville, most respondents said they preferred literary classics as reading material. However, a follow-up study conducted by the same researchers found that the type of book most frequently checked out of each of the public libraries in Leeville was the mystery novel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the respondents in the first study had misrepresented their reading habits.
WORDS: 442
TIME: 00:30:40
DATE: 2010-4-3 16:40:40

Before denoting Leeville citizens as mystery novel lovers, the evidence given in the argument above should be examined from several other perspectives. The study done by the University of Leeville has concluded that the first study had misrepresented their reading habits without deeply examining the reasons why these two studies are different. Other factors can affect the results of the conclusion.

First of all, the argument does not show us how the studies have been done. We do not know the time span between the first study and the follow-up study. We do not know the media the study used. It is possible that the second study is years after the first study that time span was long enough to make it possible for a change in the citizens' reading habit. And it is also possible that the first study was done in the area nearby the libraries where most people is fond of classic literature. Or the first study was done in a large sample that could not be evaluated as a misrepresented one. We just cannot know which study is more representative or maybe the studies both are misrepresentative if the argument does not shows us some more details.

Another element to consider is the ways conducted of the second study. The second study was done through finding the kind of books that were most checked out of the libraries. There is a strong argument brought out that the most checked out book may be not the most favorite book. It is possible that Leeville citizens like to read mystery novel as an entertainment like watching TV. Thus, they used to bring this type of book home to read. While their preferred books, literary classics, are all bought from the bookshop and stored in their bookshelves and are read and read for many times. They cherish their favorite book, so they just do not borrow the books from libraries.

Furthermore, the difference reading habit found in the second study cannot lead to the conclusion that the first study is misrepresentative. We all know that our reading habits are not only one kind. If the second checked out of libraries kind of book is literary classics in the second study, then we can still say that literary classics is Leeville citizens' preferable kind of book. If the researchers want to prove that the first study is wrong, they should rule out other reasons that support Leeville people like to read literary classics.

In conclusion, the follow-up study done by the University of Leeville cannot lead to the conclusion that the first one is misrepresentative. The researchers fail to show the supportive reason.

sunersunUID: 2734987

楼主的语言很流畅，思路也很清晰，只是第一段And it is also possible that the first study was done in the area nearby the libraries where most people is fond of classic literature个人认为逻辑性不强，住在图书馆附近不一定就喜欢读classic literature，楼主可以说被调查着主要是历史系的学生所以喜欢读classic literature.倒数第二段没有看懂，楼主在反驳什么？还有最后一段似乎还可以再多补充点。两次调查的不同还有可能是因为第一次调查的样本不够大，神秘小说最经常被借阅可能是因为公共图书馆里这类小说所占比例大，借书者和调查对象可能不是同一类群的人。

ericliu0317UID: 2533424

2# sunersun

谢谢！意见很有用。
倒数第二段我的意思是历史类书籍有可能是第二大喜欢的书籍，这样就不能说第一次的调查是错的。比如神秘小说35%，历史小说33%。没说清楚哈~~
总之，谢谢了~~

xuyinanUID: 2776187

楼主论述挺有条理的，读literary classics 的人也会借mystery novel，如果first study的调查对象大部分是已工作的人群，去图书馆借书的可能性就会小一点。感觉可以举一些更具体的例子，文章就会更饱满一些。